Catharanthus plant named ‘SAKURAI 15’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Catharanthus  named ‘SAKURAI 15’ that is characterized by sterility; upright-habit, dark-green foliage, pale green stems, and profuse red-purple flowers. In combination these traits set ‘SAKURAI 15’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Catharanthus  known to the inventor.

Genus: Catharanthus Species: pacifica×roseus.

Denomination: ‘SAKURAI 15’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Madagascar periwinkle that is grown for use as a patio plant, container plant, or bedding plant for the landscape. The new cultivar is known botanically as Catharanthus pacifica×roseus and will be referred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘SAKURAI 15’.

‘SAKURAI 15’ is characterized, by sterility, upright habit, dark-green foliage, pale green stems, and profuse red-purple flowers. The cultural requirements are well-drained soil, shade, and full sun in cooler climates, as well as little to moderate water. ‘SAKURAI 15’ exhibits no pest or disease problems known to the inventor and is tender to cold temperatures but will tolerate heat.

The new Catharanthus cultivar ‘SAKURAI 15’ is a hybrid that resulted from the inter-specific cross-pollination of an unnamed and unrelated plant of the species Catharanthus pacifica and an individual unnamed and unreleased plant of the species Catharanthus roseus. The seeds that resulted from the cross-pollination were sown, producing a crop of seedlings. In 2000 the inventor selected from the seedlings, the single hybrid ‘SAKURAI 15’ described herein. The selection took place in a cultivated area of Sakurai, Nara, Japan. Selection was based on the distinguishing characteristics of saturated flower color and sterility and tepal margin.

The female parent is a single unnamed plant of the species Catharanthus pacifica (unpatented) and the male parent plant is a single unnamed plant of the species Catharanthus roseus (unpatented). The closest comparison plant is the female parent Catharanthus pacifica. Whereas Catharanthus pacifica is fertile and has flat or planar flowers, ‘SAKURAI 15’ is sterile and bears wavy flowers whose petals appear creased and have sinuate tepal margins. This latter characteristic also distinguishes ‘SAKURAI XX’ from the male parent Catharanthus roseus whose flowers are mid pink in color.

The first asexual propagation of ‘SAKURAI 15’ was conducted by the inventor in 2000 in a cultivated area of Sakurai, Nara, Japan. The method of propagation used was vegetative cuttings. Since that time, under careful observation, the distinguishing characteristics have been determined stable, uniform and true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Catharanthus cultivar ‘SAKURAI 15’. In combination these traits set ‘SAKURAI 15’ apart from all other existing varieties of Catharanthus known to the inventor. ‘SAKURAI 15’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environment, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. Catharanthus ‘SAKURAI 15’ is sterile.     -   2. Catharanthus ‘SAKURAI 15’ is evergreen.     -   3. Catharanthus ‘SAKURAI 15’ exhibits profuse flowers whose         upper surface color is saturated red-purple.     -   4. Catharanthus ‘SAKURAI 15’ flowers exhibit a combination of         irregular lobules and weakly sinuate margin on each individual         tepal.     -   5. Catharanthus ‘SAKURAI 15’ exhibits an upright habit.     -   6. Catharanthus ‘SAKURAI 15’ exhibits pale green stems and         dark-green foliage.     -   7. Catharanthus ‘SAKURAI 15’ is 35 cm. in height and 35 cm. in         width in an 18 cm. container.     -   8. The cultural requirements of Catharanthus ‘SAKURAI 15’ are         well-drained soil, shade, to full sun in cooler climates, and         little to moderate water.     -   9. Catharanthus ‘SAKURAI 15’ is an annual plant suitable for use         as a patio plant, container plant or bedding plant for the         landscape, or as a perennial in USDA hardiness zone 10 and         warmer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings labeled as FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, illustrate the overall appearance of the new Catharanthus cultivar ‘SAKURAI 15’, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the drawings may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety ‘SAKURAI 15’. Plants in the drawings were grown under greenhouse conditions in Sakurai, Nara, Japan. Rooted vegetative cuttings were planted in 9 cm. containers in October 2005 and were transplanted to 18 cm. containers in January 2006. The plants were kept in a greenhouse and pinched back several times before the drawings were made, in April 2006.

The drawing labeled FIG. 1 illustrates the entire plant in bloom from a side perspective. The plant in the drawing is approximately 7-months-old.

The drawing labeled FIG. 2 illustrates the underside (which is depicted uppermost in the drawing) and the upperside or adaxial surface of two flowers of ‘SAKURAI 15’. The flowers shown in FIG. 2 had been removed from the plant illustrated in FIG. 1.

Both drawings were made using conventional techniques and although foliage colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance, they are as accurate as possible by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the Catharanthus cultivar named ‘SAKURAI 15’. Data was collected in Sakurai, Nara, Japan from 7 month old plants which had been grown as follows: Rooted vegetative cuttings were planted in 9 cm. containers in October 2005 and were transplanted to 18 cm. containers in January 2006. The plants were kept in a greenhouse and pinched back several times and observed during April 2006. Color determinations are in accordance with the 2001 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to the species.

-   Botanical classification: Catharanthus pacifica×roseus ‘SAKURAI 15’. -   Species: pacifica×roseus. -   Denomination: ‘SAKURAI 15.’ -   Commercial classification: Annual or perennial in USDA hardiness     zone 10 and warmer. -   Common name: Madagascar periwinkle; also erroneously as Vinca. -   Uses: Patio plant, container plant, or bedding plant for the     landscape. -   Container size: Suggested size is 18-centimeter container. -   Cultural requirements: Shade, full sun in cooler climates, any     well-drained soil, and little to moderate water. -   Parentage: ‘SAKURAI 15’ is a hybrid that resulted from the     cross-pollination of the following parent plants:     -   -   Seed parent.—A plant of the species Catharanthus pacifica.         -   Pollen parent.—A plant of the species Catharanthus roseus. -   Plant description:     -   -   Blooming seasons.—Summer and fall.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous.         -   Plant habit.—Upright habit.         -   Height (2-liter container).—35 cm. in height.         -   Width (2-liter container).—35 cm. in width.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 10.         -   Propagation.—Propagation is accomplished using vegetative             cuttings.         -   Root system.—Fibrous.         -   Time to initiate rooting.—3 weeks are needed to produce             roots on the initial cuttings.         -   Temperature to initiate rooting.—The ideal air temperature             for rooting under greenhouse conditions is 20° C.             Centigrade.         -   Crop time.—7 months are needed to produce a commercial             18 cm. container Plant from an initial cutting.         -   Seasonal interest.—Vibrant red-purple flowers in summer and             fall. -   Stem:     -   -   Stem diameter.—0.25 cm. in diameter.         -   Stem length.—20 cm. in length.         -   Shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Surface.—Fluted.         -   Pubescence.—None observed.         -   Stem color.—N144C.         -   Internodes.—1.50 cm. between nodes. -   Foliage:     -   -   Type.—Evergreen.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Leaves are arranged in a combination of             opposite and whorled on an individual stem.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf shape.—Broadly elliptic.         -   Leaf base.—Obtuse.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate.         -   Vein color (abaxial surfaces).—145A.         -   Vein color (adaxial surfaces).—145A.         -   Leaf surfaces (adaxial).—Puberulent.         -   Leaf surfaces (abaxial).—Puberulent.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Petiole dimensions.—0.50 cm. in length and 2.75 mm. in             width.         -   Petiole shape.—Flattened oval.         -   Petiole color.—145A.         -   Petiole surface.—Puberulent.         -   Leaf color (adaxial surfaces).—Colors 137A and 145A are             individually present on adaxial surfaces.         -   Leaf color (abaxial surfaces).—Colors 138A and 145A are             individually present on abaxial surfaces.         -   Leaf appearance(abaxial surfaces).—Satin.         -   Leaf appearance (adaxial surfaces).—Semi-gloss.         -   Leaf length.—Leaves range from 3.75 cm. to 5 cm in length.         -   Leaf width.—Leaves range from 2 cm. to 2.50 cm. in width.         -   Average number of leaves per stem.—An average of 32 leaves             per stem.         -   Foliar fragrance.—Pungent scent. -   Flower:     -   -   Inflorescence.—Solitary flower.         -   Petals.—A petalous.         -   Tepals.—Five in number.         -   Fused or unfused.—Tepals are unfused.         -   Tepal margin.—Each individual tepal exhibits a combination             of irregular lobules and weakly sinuate margin.         -   Tepal apex.—Closest to obcordate.         -   Tepal base.—Truncate.         -   Tepal surfaces (adaxial surfaces).—Glabrous.         -   Tepal surfaces (abaxial surfaces).—Glabrous.         -   Tepal shape.—Closest to rhombic.         -   Tepal dimensions.—1.50 cm. in width and 1.50 cm. in length.         -   Tepal color (adaxial surface).—61B.         -   Tepal color (abaxial surface).—Very pale red-purple (paler             than 69D) becoming darker, 69B, towards tepal apex.         -   Aspect.—Facing upward.         -   Flower surface.—Rotate.         -   Flower color (adaxial surface).—61B.         -   Flower color (abaxial surface).—69B or paler.         -   Color of peduncle.—N144C.         -   Peduncle length.—Individual peduncles on an individual plant             range from 2-3 cm. in length.         -   Peduncle diameter.—2 mm. in diameter.         -   Peduncle shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.         -   Dimensions of flower.—1.75 cm. in depth and 3.50 cm. in             diameter.         -   Quantity of flowers (18 cm. container).—Quantity ranges from             50-60 individual flowers on an individual commercial             container plant.         -   Bud color.—145C.         -   Bud apex.—Truncate.         -   Bud surface.—Mostly glabrous with only a few hairs.         -   Bud shape.—Quadrate.         -   Bud dimensions.—0.75 cm. in length and 0.25 cm. in width.         -   Sepals.—None observed.         -   Fragrance.—None observed. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—None observed.         -   Anthers.—None observed.         -   Stigma.—None observed.         -   Style.—None observed.         -   Ovary position.—Inferior.         -   Ovary shape.—Closest to elongated oval in shape.         -   Ovary dimensions.—6 mm. in height and 3 mm. in width.         -   Ovary color.—N144C. -   Seed: ‘SAKURAI 15’ is sterile and does not produce seed. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Catharanthus plant named ‘SAKURAI 15’ as described and illustrated. 